Adjustable radiator fan



.Nov. 3,1925;

c. F. EHINGER' ADJUSTABLE m-pm'r'on FAN Filed Nov. 14, 1-924 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 3,1925.v 1,560,173

0. F. EHINGER Y 'xDJusTAsLE' RAVDVI'ATOR FAN Filed Nov. 14, 4 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 3, 1925.

CARL F. EHINGER, OF CLEVELAND, 'OHIO.

PATENT orrice.

ADJUSTABLE RADIATOR FAN.

Application filed November 14, 1924. Serial No. 749,983.

To all whom it may concern v Be it known that I, CARL F. EHINGER, acitizen of the United States, and resident of Cleveland, in the countyof Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Adjustable Ra'- diator Fans, of which I herebydeclare'the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, suchas will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains 'to makeand use the same.

The objects of the invention are to provide an improvement in radiatorfansfor motor cars, and the peculiar novelty of the invention lies inmeans for adjusting the angle of the blades of the fan to control thevolume of cold air delivered to the engine, thus permitting the operatorto provide the maximum amount of cold air to an overheated engine and tovary the amount of air supplied thereto or to cut it off entirely as theoutside temperature is reduced, thus enabling him to maintain thetemperature of the engine as nearly constant as possible.

A further feature of great importance is found in the provision of meansfor reversing the angles of adjustment of the blades, thus enabling theoperator to change the direction of the air current produced thereby,the effect ,of which is to propel the heated air from underneath thehood in which theengine is, enclosed, forwardly, through the radiator toheat the same, and to prevent the water therein from freezing and todraw it out if it should become frozen.

The invention comprises a hollow hub in which the bladesare pivoted uponradial shafts-astationary fan shaft, and'a device movable in said shaft,and operatively connected with a rack member with which pinions uponsaid radial shafts engage,to revolve all the blades simultaneously uponIt also includes means accessible to the operator formanually'controlling the operation of the device and for limiting theamount or movement of said blades. It further includes guide means forgiving a rectilinear movement to said rack member, which also serves toprevent the revolution of said rack member in said hub.

The invention is hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section showing a on, and blades mounted uponradial shafts which are pivoted in thehub, and a rack member slidablymovable in the hub upon the fan shaft, an inner operating rod or shaft,therefor, and guide means for said rack member,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the rigid or stationary shaft, Fig. 4 is aperspective of the rack carrying sleeve or -member, Fig. 5 is aperspective of one of the guides there for, Fig. 6 is a side elevationof the complete device and Fig. 7 is a plan of the positioning plate ortemperature or guide for adjustment of temperature.

In these views A represents the stationary fan shaft rigidly secured toa bracket B, secured to the motor frame,

C, is a hollow hub mounted uponthe fan shaft and revolvable upon theshaft by means of the fan pulley,

D, attached rigidly thereto by means .of screws, D, D,

E, E, are fan blades mounted upon radial shafts F, F, which are providedwith bearings, G, G, in the peripheral wall of the hub. F are springsupon the radial shafts which tend to keep the gears in mesh with theracks, and F are external sleeves on theseshafts for adjustment thereof,F are securing screws therefor.

, Pinions H, H, are attached to the inner ends of these shafts, and areengaged by racks I, I, tangentially secured to a member or sleeve J,which is slidingly mounted upon the fan shaft and operated by mechanismas follows: a

The preferred manner of accomphshmg this action is by means of a centralrod K, which is slidingly movable in the hollow fan shaft. Pins L, L,spaced apart in said rod project, through a longitudinal slot M 1n saidshaft and engage with which'engage with opposite ends of said rackmember or sleeve member. and rotate the pinions upon the radial bladesupon the fan shafts. To prevent the rack member from rotating upon ofthe hub, and lock nuts 0', O, secure the screws from turning. Theadjusting means washers L, L,

to move said rack blades and radial shafts therefor revolvable alsopermits the racks to be brought closer to the pinion-s to take up wearthereon and prevent noise.

Adjacent to the inner end of the rodK, are shown spaced recesses S, S,therein, in

which a ball V is forced by a spring U, and

a set screw T, at the several positions assumed by the rack to lock ittherein, until moved therefrom by the driver. This screw preferablypasses through the lock nut V.

The rod K is operated from the driver's seat preferably by means of avbell crank P upon the bracket and a lever Q. on the dash which movesovcr a graduated are R, which determines the exact position of theblades and-their angular adjustment, to produce predeterminedtemperatures in the engine, and also indicates when the bladesarercversed in position.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a hollow stationar fan shaft and rigid supporttherefor, of a hollow fan hub, and a pulley secured thereto andrevolvable on said hollow shaft, fan blades and radial shaftsthereforrevolvable in the wall of said hub, pinions upon the inner endsof said radial shafts, a rack carrying member slidable upon said fanshaft, and a rod longitudinally movable in said fan shaft, and means forengaging said rod with said rack carrying member.

2. In combination with a hollow stationary fan shaft and rigid supporttherefor of a hollow fan hub, and a pulley secured thereto andrevolvable on said hollow shaft, fan blades and radial shafts thereforrevolvable in the wall of said hub, pinions upon the inner ends of saidradial shafts, a rack carrying member slidable upon said fan shaft, anda rod longitudinally movable in said fan shaft, means for engaging saidsaid hub, a stationary hollow fan shaft and support therefor, said hubbeing. revolvable upon said stationary fan shaft, a rack carrying memberslidingly movable upon said stationary shaft within said hub, the racksthereon engaging with said pinions upon said radially disposed shafts, alongitudinally movable rod in said hollow shaft and means upon said rodfor engaging said rack carrying member.

5. In a device of the character described in combination, a hollow hub,radially disposed shafts journalled therein, and fan blades securedthereon, pinions secured to the inner extremities of said shafts withinsaid hub;-a stationary hollow fan shaft and support therefor, said hubbeing revolvable upon said stationary fan shaft, a rack carrying memberslidingly movable upon said stationary shaft within said hub, the racksthereon engaging with said pinions upon said radially disposed shafts, alongitudinally movable rod in said hollow shaft and means upon said rodfor engaging said rack carrying member, said hollow shaft being providedwith a longitudinal slot through which said engaging means project.

6. In a device of the character described in combination, a hollow hub,radially dispose-d shafts joiirnalled therein, and fanblades securedthereon, pinions secured to the inner extremities of said shafts withinsaid hub; a stationary hollow fan shaft and support therefor, said hubbeing revolvable upon said stationary fan shaft, a rack car. ryingmember slidingly movable upon said stationary shaft within said hub, theracks thereon engaging with said pinions upon said radially disposedshafts, a longitudinally movable rod in said hollow shaft and means uponsaid rod for engaging said rack carrying member, said hollow shaft beingprovided with a longitudinal slot through rod with said rack carryingmember, and which said engaging means project, said parallel guide meansfor said rack membcri in said hub.

In combination with a hollow stationary fan shaft and rigid supporttherefor of a hollow fan hub, and a pulley secured thereto andrevolvable on said hollow shaft, fan

in the wall of said hub, pinions upon the inner ends of said radialshafts, a rack carrying member slidable upon said fan shaft, and a rodlongitudinally movable in said fan shaft, means for engaging said rodwith said rack carrying member, and parallel guide means forsaid rackmember in said hub, and means for transversely adjusting said guidemeans.

4. In a device of the character described in combination, a hollow hub,radially disposed shafts journalled therein, and fan blades securedthereon, pinions secur d to the inner extremities of said shafts withinsaid racks within said hub, upon which said racks are slidingly movable.

7, In a device of the character describedin combination, a hollow hub,radially disposed shafts joui-nalled therein, and fan blades securedthereon, pinions secured to the inner extremities of said shafts withinsaid hub, a stationary hollow fan Shaft and support therefor, said hubbeing revolvable upon said stationary fan shaft, a rack carrying memberslidingly movable upon said stationary shaft within said hub, the racksthereon engaging with said pinions upon said radially disposed shafts, a1ongitudi nally movable rod in said hollow shaft and means upon said rodfor engaging said rack carrying member, said hollow shaft being providedwith a longitudinal slot through which said engaging means project,

said racks projecting tangentially upon said rack carrying member, andguide means for said racks within said hub, upon which said racks areslidingly movable, and means adjustable in the wall of said hub' forsupporting said guide means.

8. In a device of the character set forth, a fan shaft, a hollow hubrevolvable thereon, radial shafts journalled therein, pinions secured tothe inner ends thereof within said hub, a rack member slidingly movableupon said shaft, said rack member being provided with tangentiallydisposed racks, and a sleeve body attached thereto and guide means forsaid rack member, said guide means serving also to prevent therevolution of saidrack member upon said shaft.

9. In a device of the character sctforth, a fan shaft, 'a hollow hubrevolvable thereon, radial shafts journalled therein, pinions secured tothe inner ends thereof within said hub, a rack member slidingly movableupon said shaft, said rack member being provided with tangentiallydisposed racks, and a sleeve body attached thereto and guide means for asaid rack member, said guide means servingalso to prevent the revolutionof said rack member upon said shaft, said fan shaft being stationary andhollow, and means longitudinally movable in said shaft forvoperati'ngsaid rack member.

10. In a device for rotating the blades of the radiator fan of a motorcar, the combination with a stationary hollow shaft and a hollow fan hubrotatable thereon, of radial blades and shafts therefor journalled insaid hub, pinions in said hub upon said radial shafts,-.a rack carryingmember sleeved over said shaft, the racks thereon being engaged withsaid pinions,-a rod reciprocable in said hollow shaft,means for engagingsaid rod with said rack carrying member, and a positioning and operatingmeans for said rod mounted upon the dash of said car.

11. In .an adjustable radiator fan the combination with fan shaft, a hubrevolvable thereon, radial blades and shafts therefor journalled in saidhub, a rack carrying member slidable upon said shaft, and pinions on theinner ends of said shafts engageable with said racks, springs interposedbetween said pinions and the wall of said hub, and

sleeves adjustably secured upon said shafts outside of said hub.

for said rack 12. In an adjustable radiator fan for a motor car a hollowstationary fan shaft, a

hub rotatable thereon, a multiple number 7 of radial blades and shaftstherefor journalled in said hub pinions upon the inner ends of saidshafts, a rack carrler and racks therefor slidably mounted upon saidshaft, a rod slidably movable in said shaft, means for operativelyconnecting said rod and rack carrier and spaced resilient locking meansfor said shaft.

13. In an adjustable radiator fan for a motor car a hollow stationaryfan shaft, a

hub rotatable thereon, a multiple number of radial blades and shaftstherefor journalled in said hub pinions upon the inner ends of saidshafts, a rack carrier and racks therefor slidably mounted upon saidshaft,.a rod slidably movable in said shaft, means for operativelyconnecting said rod and rack carrier and spaced resilient locking meansfor said shaft, and means'positioned in the dash of said car foradjusting the position of. said rod and rack carrier.

. 14:. In an adjustable radiator fan, in combination, a stationary fanshaft, a hollow fan hub .revolvable thereon, radial blades and shaftstherefor journalled in said hub pinions on the inner ends of said radialshafts, a rack carrier slidably mounted on said fa n shaft in said hub,an operating rod carrier, said rod slidably movable in said fan shaft,said fan shaft being longitudinally slotted, radial projections fromsaid rod at opposite ends of said rack carrier, and annular washersbetween said projections and the ends of said carrier.

15. In a device of the character described, a fan hub, a stationaryhollow shaft upon which said hub is rotatable, a support for the shaft,radial fan blades and shafts therefor, said shafts being revolvable inthe walls of said hub, pinionsonthe inner ends of said shafts; a centraloperating rod passing through said shaft; a rack member longitudinallymovable on said shaftand' provided with racks engaging with the saidpinions; means on said rod for engaging said rack member to reciprocatethe same, said hollow shaft being provided with an opening permittingsuch engagement.

In testnnony whereof, I hereunto set my hand this 18th day of October1924.

CARL F. EHINGER.

